Indicating apparatus



C. B. LORD.

INDICATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1921.

1,417,928. Patented May 30, 1922.

w A e/7 for.

UNITED STATES CHESTER B. LORD, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

INDIGATIN G APPARATUS.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Application filed November 23, 1921. Serial No. 517,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER B. LORD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan,United States of America, have invented a certain new and usefulIndicating Apparatus, of which the following is such a full, clear, andexact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to whichitappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to means for indicating graphically conditionsexisting at a given time and as constructed for use in a manufacturingestablishment, for example, comprises a chart and associated devices forindicating important facts with respect to materials, tools, parts,fabrication or assembly of parts, orders, sales or the like. Theparticular embodiment of my invention to be hereinafter describedconstitutes a factory control chart for the production of the parts of amachine or other device being manufactured.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple, inexpensive visualindicator of existing or impending conditions which may be easilyoperated to show changes; which is divided into zones covering thejurisdictions of various employees and officials; which may be caused toindicate abnormal or exceptional conditions; and an indicatingappara-tus in which erroneous indications cannot result from a break orother defect in the apparatus itself. Other objects and advantages of myinvention will appear from the following more detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of an indicatingapparatus embodying my invention and Figure 2 is a cross sectional Viewon the line 22, of Figure 1.

The apparatus comprises a suitable frame 1 supporting a wire mesh 2which mesh is divided visually into a. plurality of parallelhorizontally disposed zones, the limits of these zones being indicatedby heavy lines on the drawing but in practice may be convenientlyindicated by having the port1ons of the mesh in the different oradjacent zones painted in contrasting colors. The number of zonesemployed will depend upon the ervice to which the apparatus is beingput,

' thes legends the particular embodiment shown in the drawmg having fourzones A, B, C and D. Supported on the frame above the wire mesh is arecessed band 3 on which a strip of paper 4 1s removably held. In theembodiment of my invention shown, this paper carries printed legendsconstituting the name or number or both of the various parts of amachlne, such as a tractor for example, which is to be manufactured.Passing through the wire meshor through or over a suitable support at apoint adjacent to are one or more strings to the end of WlllCh at therear of the apparatus areattached weights 5 and to the other endlndlcators 6 of any suitable type such as colored beads. To the stringsadjacent to the indicators are also attached hook members 7 whlch may beengaged with the wire mesh at any desired point and are held inengagement by the action of weights on the strings tending to pull theindicator ends upward.

To prevent interference of the weights with each other in movement theymay be spaced by employing two or more spaced horizontally positionedsupporting wires 8 over any one of which a selected number of thestrings may be passed.

In the operation of the apparatus described for indicating theconditions existing at any particular time with respect to themanufacture of parts of a machine, an indicator will be positioned inthe lowest zone only when an exceptional condition occurs with respectto the manufacture of the part to which it applies which requires theattention of the general manager or production manager of the factory.When indicators are in zone C they show that the responsibility ofbringing them up to zone above is upon the production, order orpurchasing departments, depending upon the character of the shortage ofparts. Indicators in zone B show conditions requiring attention ofsubordinate employees and indicators in zone A show that the conditionswith respect to the particular parts to which they apply, are normal. Ifa larger number of a given art has been completed than is required on erthe plan of operation being following the indicator for this part ishooked over the upper edge of the band 3.

It will be noted that the unintentional release of an indicator or thebreaking of a. 110

string will cause the particular indicator to assume an abnormalposition, calling attention to the defect and will not result in anerroneous indication. 1 T' It will be apparent that my improvedindicating apparatus is applicable to a variety of particular uses suchas for making indications of time, value, quantity, or j urisdiction andin general any use to which an indicating graph can be put, and issusceptible of structural modifications without departing from itsfundamental principles of operation and I, therefore, do not intend thatthe scope of my invention be limited otherwise than set out in theappended claims.

Having fully described my invention what- I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an indicating apparatus, the combination with means forming asurface divided into parallel zones, movable indicators, means forretaining the indicators in de sired position on said surface, and meansadapted to return the indicators to predetermined'positions whenreleased from the retaining means.

2. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of means forming asurface divided into parallel zones, indicators, each movable into anyselected zone. means for retaining the indicators in desired position onsaid surface, and means adapted to return the indicators topredetermined positions when released from the retaining means.

3; In an indicating apparatus, the combination with means forming anindicating surface, Jnovable indicators provided with means tending tomove them to predetermined positions, and means for retaining anyindicator-in other positions on said surface.

4. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of a frame, a pluralityof spaced wires supported thereby, means dividing the said series ofwires into a plurality of parallel zones, indicators provided withretaining means adapted to engage said wires, and means adapted toreturn the indicators to predetermined positions when released from thewires.

5. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of a frame, a pluralityof spaced parallel vertically disposed wires crossed by a plurality ofspaced parallel horizontally disposed wires, means dividing the saidseries of wires into a plurality of horizontal ,zones, indicatorsprovided with retaining means adapted to enter spaces formed between thehorizontal and vertical wires, and means adapted to return theindicators to predetermined positions when released from the wires.

6 In an indicating apparatus, the combination of a section of wire mesh,indicators provided with means for engaging the open ings of the mesh,weights attached to the indicators by means of strings, and stringsupporting means above the weights, and engaging the strings between theweights and indicators.

7. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of a section of wire meshsuitably divided into parallel horizontally extending zones, indicatorsprovided with means for engaging the openings in the mesh and weightsattached to the indicators by means of strings passing throughthe upperportion of the mesh. 1

8. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of a section of wiremesh, indicators provided with means for engaging the openings of themesh, weights attached to the indicators by means of strings,.stringsupporting means above the weights, and engaging the strings between theweights and indicators. and means for spacing the weights to preventinterference in movement.

9. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of means forming anindicator receiving surface having indicating subdivisions, means abovesaid surface carrying legends, and indicators having attached meansextending to positions adjacent to said legends.

10. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of means forming anindicator receiving surface, means above said surface carrying printedlegends, indicators having attached strings extending to points adjacentto said legends, means for attaching said indicators to the indicatorreceiving surface, and means for supporting said indicators at pointsabove said legends.

11. In an indicating apparatus, the combination of means forming anindicating sur-.

face and provided with a plurality of openings one above another,indicators provided with means for engaging said openings, weightsattached to the indicators by means of strings, and string supportingmeans above the weights and engaging the strings between the weights andindicators.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and aflixed my seal. 1

CHESTER B. LORD. [L.S.]

